In Pics: Rajahmundry's Pushkaralu festival turns a nightmare

Approximately 22 people have been reportedly killed several were injured in a stampede in Andhra Pradesh's Rajahmundry district during the religious festival of Pushkaralu.

The tragedy occurred when a large number of pilgrims rushed towards one of the gates at Kotagummam pushkar ghat on the banks of Godavari river to take the holy dip.

Chaos prevailed at all the three gates at the ghat in Rajahmundry, a town in East Godavari district. People are blaming the state government for not doing proper arrangements to prevent such an untoward incident.

Here are some of the images of the tragedy:

Festival turns a nightmare

Approximately 22 people have been reportedly killed and several were injured in the stampede. The death toll might rise.

Festival turns a nightmare

The reason behind the huge crowd at the Godavari river bank is because of the fact that the festival happens once in every 144 years. However, a smaller version of Pushkar is held once in every 12 years.

Festival turns a nightmare

The bodies of victims, all women, were shifted to Rajahmundry government hospital. The injured were also brought to the hospital, where the condition of some of them is stated to be critical.

PM Condoles loss of lives

"Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Rajahmundry. My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. I spoke to CM N Chandrababu Naidu and discussed the situation with him. The State Government is working to restore normalcy," the PM Modi tweeted.

CM appeals people to not to panic

"It is regrettable that lives are lost in stampede at Rajahmundry Ghat. Request people not to panic. Situation brought under control," said CM N Chandrababu Naidu.